Get a good grip and cushion your hands from the rigors of a good, solid workout with these Basic Padded Straps from Schiek. Designed to help support the wrists while also providing a padded grip on the weight bar, the basic padded straps are great for any type of weightlifter.
1/8" neoprene padding for added comfort
Same durable 1-1/2" nylon/acrylic webbing as our deluxe straps
Full 20" length

Health Notes

Disclaimer:
This scientific independent research is provided by Aisle7 and is for informational use only. GNC provides this information as a service but does not endorse it. Likewise, Aisle7 does not recommend or endorse any specific products.

Smile More with the Sunshine Vitamin

Risk of depression was higher in people with the lowest vitamin D levels

An analysis of evidence gathered from several recent studies shows that low vitamin D levels are associated with depression, according to a report in The British Journal of Psychiatry.

What does D do?

Vitamin D isn't actually a vitamin: it's a hormone, with far-reaching effects in the body, such as proper bone development, immune system health, muscle function, brain development, and nerve transmission. Some studies have tied low vitamin D levels to an increased risk of depression, but the results haven't always been consistent.

Can D make me happy?

The review assessed information collected from a range of high-quality studies that looked at the relationship between vitamin D levels and depression. Fourteen studies including 31,424 people were included in the analysis.

One was a case-control study, where vitamin D levels of depressed women were compared with those of nondepressed women.

Ten were cross-sectional studies, where rates of depression and vitamin D levels were assessed at a single point in time.

Three were cohort studies, where vitamin D levels were measured in nondepressed people who were then followed to see if their levels were tied to the risk of developing depression.

Vitamin D might turn that frown upside down

Risk of depression was higher in people with the lowest vitamin D levels, compared with those with the highest levels in the cross-sectional studies.

Risk of depression significantly increased in people with the lowest vitamin D levels, compared with those with the highest levels in the cohort studies.

"Given the high prevalence of both vitamin D deficiency and depression, an association between these two conditions would have significant public health implications, particularly as supplementation with vitamin D is cost-effective and without significant adverse effect," the researchers commented.

The researchers were unable to identify any randomized, controlled trials for inclusion in the analysis, which limits the strength of their findings. Randomized, controlled studies are considered the gold standard for clinical trials. They include a treatment group and placebo (control) group, which helps reduce bias and other confounding factors.

Before you reach for a supplement

While it's clear that there's a relationship between vitamin D status and mood, these studies can't tell us if low vitamin D causes depression or if it's a result of it. For example, one explanation might be that depressed people go outdoors less often, and getting less sun may mean lower vitamin D levels.

The measures used to assess vitamin D levels in these studies might not be an accurate estimation of vitamin D status, and other conditions (besides overt vitamin D deficiency) could affect them. Until a better measure is identified or developed, recommendations based on these results should be made cautiously.

Further research is needed to know whether supplementing with vitamin D to correct deficiency might also help alleviate depression.

(Br J Psychiatry 2013;doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.111.106666)

Kimberly Beauchamp, ND, received her doctoral degree from Bastyr University, the nation's premier academic institution for science-based natural medicine. She co-founded South County Naturopaths in Wakefield, RI, where she practiced whole family care with an emphasis on nutritional counseling, herbal medicine, detoxification, and food allergy identification and treatment. Her blog, Eat Happy, helps take the drama out of healthy eating with real food recipes and nutrition news that you can use. Dr. Beauchamp is a regular contributor to Healthnotes Newswire.

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